How to make a board game with young children (Part 2): 12 questions from Maurice.
- Frédérique and the Wooden Fellows
A few weeks ago, we shared a post about making a board game with young children to create a fun space to engage with them in a fun yet thoughtful way. Today, we are adding examples of questions and a short video modeling how Maurice and I played the game of Pouilles.
Brief summary of our previous post, and the game of Pouilles
As you may remember (if not, here is our previous post, How to make a board with young children, Part 1), the idea is to think about a story to build up the game, creating a path on a piece of paper, with some labeled squares. Players take turns rolling a die (or more), and are asked a question every time they land on a labeled square. We took the example of the Game of Pouilles, who, as you may know, come from our imaginary world to spread love. Goal of the game? Share some love by answering questions every time we land on a heart. Our last post, however, suggested cards with just thoughts or ideas of questions and creating them on the spot, depending on the players, their interests, some learning goals you may have, etc. We, however, recognize that it is not always easy : ) So today, we offer 12 questions to guide you in your journey. As always, though, those are not one-size-fits-all, and you may want to adjust them depending on the age of the child(ren), and where they are in their development.
12 questions from Maurice
Since our game is about spreading love, we created questions focusing on connecting with others to strengthen young players’ empathy. We also included questions about the players themselves, as a reminder to take every opportunity to get to know them better. Additionally, we have incorporated some numbers (e.g., “4 things you like to do with a friend”) to introduce a little math subtly! Next time, we’ll share a game fully dedicated to exploring the five areas of early mathematics.
Here are some questions that focus on others…
The first two questions focus on laughter, reminding us that laughing every day is not only fun but also great for our mental health—and so much more.
What would you say to make someone laugh?
What would you do to make someone laugh?
Sometimes, situations arise where it is helpful to help young children support others who may be hurt or sick. The key is to stay at their level of understanding (as discussed in Maurice’s post about grief). To do this effectively, it’s crucial to assess where the child is in their emotional and developmental journey.
- What would you say to someone to make them feel better when they are sick or hurt?
- What would you do to someone to make them feel better when they are sick or hurt?
Friendship! As young children grow, they transition from parallel play to more collaborative play, learning the value of working together.
- What are 4 things you like to do with a friend?
… some questions that are about the child themselves
Now, let’s turn the spotlight on the child. Here are some fun and reflective questions designed to help them explore their own feelings, interests, and experiences and, more importantly, to help you know them better. Be prepared for a treat, as you never know what may come out of the mouth of young children.
- What is 1 thing that makes you feel like dancing?
- What is your favorite song?
- What are 2 things you love doing outside?
- What are 5 things you love doing inside?
- What are your favorite clothes and why?
- What are 3 things that make you laugh?
- What are 3 books, or 3 stories, you love?
To see the game in action, check out the video below, where Maurice and I demonstrate how to play the game of Pouilles and engage with these thoughtful questions. It is a great way to see how to bring the game to life!
We would love to hear how you have used these questions in your own games. Share your experiences or any questions you have added in the comments below!